Category Archives: NBI ARTICLES

Valued and invaluable 🌈 NEVER 🏳️‍🌈 BLEND 🌈 IN 🏳️‍🌈contributor and Give ‘em Hope administrator, Joe Mannetti, is hosting his first event since moving back to New York.

It is a fundraiser for AIDS Walk New York and the outreach and programs that support the people we love living with HIV/AIDS.

Joe worked, proudly so, as an HIV testing counselor on both the east and west coasts for years, so, this mission is near and dear to his heart, as it is to the bevy of fine performers and others who have stepped forward to “WALK the WALK” on March 24, 2018 (Saturday).

These include performer, tireless HIV/AIDS activist, and the AIDS Walk New York team leader of the CandyWrappers, Candy Samples (aka Will Harrell).

Candy’s motto is, “Use your powers for good.”

“The fight against HIV/AIDS is not over until an affordable vaccine and cure is readily available for all. Until that happens, we are all still living with HIV/AIDS.” – Joe Mannetti

Joe Mannetti Presents

“WALK THE WALK”

A fundraiser benefitting AIDS Walk New York and the programs and outreach provided by GMHC (Gay Men’s Health Crisis) supporting individuals living with HIV/AIDS.

In its over 30 years, AIDS Walk New York has inspired nearly 890,000 people to walk and millions more to donate, raising nearly $150 million to combat HIV and AIDS.

The funds raised at the event remain a vital lifeline sustaining the prevention, care, and advocacy programs GMHC provides for the thousands of men, women, and families affected by the disease in the tri-state area.

The proceeds also benefit dozens of other HIV/AIDS service organizations that are able to participate as teams and raise funds through the Community Partnership Program (CPP).

Visit gmhc.org to learn more about its life-sustaining programs and services.

GMHC is the world’s first and leading provider of HIV prevention, care and advocacy. Building on decades of dedication and expertise, GMHC fights to this day to end the HIV epidemic and uplift the lives of all affected.

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Scott Coblio returns with another enlightening piece of writing in which he reflects upon the impact of small and seemingly insignificant acts of human kindness.

At the end of this piece you will find some information on how you, if you live in the UK, can help offer hope to homeless individuals in your local community.

About a year ago, a man came into my work seemingly having a nervous breakdown.

He said something to the effect that his friends had left him and he had nowhere to stay, and asked if he could use the phone.

I, at first, said no, that it wasn’t a public phone, etc.

He politely said “okay……” in a trembling voice and started to walk away.

Then I felt bad and said “Actually, yes, you can make a call if you want.”

He came back in and dialed a number.

“They’re not answering…thanks anyway for letting me try,” he said, starting to cry as he walked away.

“Wait–do you have family that lives close enough to come and get you?” I asked.

He thought about it and took the phone and dialed another number, got someone who said they would come, and waited outside for what I remember to be about 3-4 hours.

I went out and told him he could wait inside if he wanted but he said no thank you, he was okay out there.

Finally, a carload of people pulled up and a girl got out and hugged him for a long time before they packed him into the car.

As it backed out of the lot, she mouthed the words “thank you” to me through the window.

Yesterday–a year later–a co-employee told me that this man came in the store looking for me, that he told my co-worker that he’d been on drugs at the time and at the end of his rope, but his family had helped him clean up and now had a job doing social work, and he just wanted to thank the guy who let him use the phone.

Remembering how I almost didn’t, I felt very glad that such a small thing as letting him make a call, and suggesting he call his family, led to such a profound change in his life.

I have to admit–I am not always charitable.

How sympathetically I react to someone in need depends totally on how I’m approached and addressed.

It just so happened this man was very respectful and polite, so I softened, and am glad I did.

We don’t always get to see what happens when we are helpful or charitable—but it’s important to know that sometimes, one little spark can rekindle a whole fire.

POSTING AGAIN TO ASK ALL UK FRIENDS TO DOWNLOAD THE APP.

Shining a Light on Homelessness #StreetLink – DAVID E WATTERS

Are you concerned about #homelessness and rough sleepers in your area?

I am and I have submitted a referral for a man I spent some time talking to the other day. We shared a coffee. Well, what I mean is I bought us both a coffee and I asked him how he was and what help he was accessing, if any.

He’d been sleeping in a car park where the attendants, in some sense looked out for him but where he was at risk of unwelcome attention and where he had recently suffered a violent attack.

If, like me, you are concerned that there are people suffering in this way, there is something very easy that you can do to help.

StreetLink aims to offer the public a means to act when they see someone sleeping rough, and is the first step someone can take to ensure rough sleepers are connected to the local services and support available to them.

If you are concerned about someone sleeping rough, send an alert to StreetLink by visiting http://www.streetlink.org.uk, via the mobile app, available for Apple and Android devices, or by calling 0300 500 0914.

The details provided by a member of the public are sent to the local authority or outreach team concerned, so they can help connect the person to local services and support.

The person submitting the alert receives details of the action the local authority normally takes when they are told someone is sleeping rough.

StreetLink also contacts the council within ten working days to find out what has happened as a result of the alert and, if requested, provides the person who made the referral with an update.

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I’m getting extremely annoyed with the Society for Education and Training who take subscription money annually for doing very little and refuse to acknowledge I have QTLS!

They are getting pretty rude in their emails now and I’ve sent the statement that I received on getting QTLS status. They need to sort their records out and not tell me “You do not currently hold QTLS status. If you want to check that with my colleagues in head office please email” Shouldn’t they be the ones checking?! Aaaaaaaargh.

“David, many thanks for your extensive, well-documented and thoughtful Professional Formation application for QTLS. The evidence demonstrated excellent practice and a professional approach across an extensive career in the sector.

In the areas of subject currency and teaching and learning, you have attached considerable evidence which demonstrated an on-going commitment to improvements in training and development in your subject specialism. Teacher trainers and advanced practitioners should model best practice and this is something you clearly do. Your use of a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis was an excellent method for exploring development needs in relation to professional development planning. Your professional development programme was well planned and will provide opportunities to enhance your professional practice. You have been able to provide a rich and detailed range of evidence that demonstrated your ability to reflect on the positive impact of CPD on your professional role.

Your standardised and personalised evidence fully met all requirements for Professional Formation and we are very pleased to tell you that your application has been successful. Congratulations on an exceptional webfolio. We wish you well in your future career.”

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Are you concerned about #homelessness and rough sleepers in your area?

I am and I have submitted a referral for a man I spent some time talking to the other day. We shared a coffee. Well, what I mean is I bought us both a coffee and I asked him how he was and what help he was accessing, if any.

He’d been sleeping in a car park where the attendants, in some sense looked out for him but where he was at risk of unwelcome attention and where he had recently suffered a violent attack.

If, like me, you are concerned that there are people suffering in this way, there is something very easy that you can do to help.

StreetLink aims to offer the public a means to act when they see someone sleeping rough, and is the first step someone can take to ensure rough sleepers are connected to the local services and support available to them.

If you are concerned about someone sleeping rough, send an alert to StreetLink by visiting www.streetlink.org.uk, via the mobile app, available for Apple and Android devices, or by calling 0300 500 0914.

The details provided by a member of the public are sent to the local authority or outreach team concerned, so they can help connect the person to local services and support.

The person submitting the alert receives details of the action the local authority normally takes when they are told someone is sleeping rough.

StreetLink also contacts the council within ten working days to find out what has happened as a result of the alert and, if requested, provides the person who made the referral with an update.